4. Chief Surgeon Who?

October 8, 1972 (J-307)

Written by: Larry Gelbart
Directed by: E. W. Swackhamer
Guest Stars: Jack Riley as Captain Kaplan.
Semi-regulars: Sorrell Booke as General Barker. Odessa Cleveland as Ginger. Jamie Farr as Klinger, of course. Timothy Brown as Spearchucker Jones. Bob Gooden as Boone. Linda Meiklejohn as Nurse Leslie. John Orchard as Ugly John.

Plot: The boys are hassling Burns again. After another heated session in the OR, Burns pressures Henry to name a chief surgeon, which he does. However, it's to Burns's detriment - Henry decides to make it Hawkeye. Hot Lips and Burns 21:33 26/03/05are furious, and call up General Barker who arrives in camp only to encounter Klinger (his first appearance of the series) dressed in a woman's uniform. Even though he is sprung in the middle of a midnight poker game, Hawkeye proves that he is more than capable of being chief surgeon. However, the general has run into most of the camp in the interim and decided that they're all nuts.

Glitches: The slouch on Ugly John's hat changes sides between shots. It's meant to be on the left.
Hawkeye doesn't change gloves between patients in the final scene. Spank, spank, spank.

BIMOL: Radar isn't too prominent this episode.

Great Lines: Burns, after getting sprung with Hot Lips: 'Bet this looks funny.' General Barker: 'Bet it doesn't!'

The Klinger Collection: He is still relatively subdued here, wearing a female dress uniform. But he makes up for it turning up in the buff later on.

Continuity is for Wimps: Radar smoking a cigar and drinking brandy?!?
The taps in the scrub room don't have elbow handles at this point.

Suction: 'Some'.

Notes: Henry is another one who's married with a flexible arrangement.

Comments: This is the first of a number of episodes designed to show how good Hawkeye is in comparison to Burns, and it wasn't as good as some later attempts; his arrogant refusal to explain exactly what's what to the general is a little out of character. Episode 21. Sticky Wicket, for example, is a much better story with a more satisfying ending. The random camp shenanegins which the General runs into are enough to make this episode worth seeing, though.

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